Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
AN INDIANS PLUCK.
A TALE or RARELY UNsELFIsH HERO
ISM FROM PAR OFF ALASKA.
The White Messenger Fell in the Snow
and the Boy Carried Hin
for Miles.

a san francisco special SAYS Alaska
mails just received here give the story
OF an act of heroism on the part OF an
Indian lad which has perhaps hardly q
parallel for self-sacrifcing bravery and
endurance. The Indians of the inte-
nor (Cbilkats), although somewhat de-
based by contact with the whites, are
OF much higher grade of intelligence
9nd character than the Esquimaux Of
ihe coast. This boy, only eighteen
years old, was selected by Tom vii.
i6me, the regular messenger from the
caEps about the Stewart river, SONS
90 miles inland. to accompany him to
Juneau.
The Stewart river debouches into the
Great Yukon just where the Rocky
Mountain range has it's beginning.
u illisms and the lad started with a
team Of two dogs and sled for Juneau
about the middle OF February. They
followed up the course of the Yu-
kon past Fort Selkirk and along
Lewis river without incident until
they reached Lake Lebarge $50 miles
from their starting point. Here one
Of he dogs gave out, and the other
died on reaching the top of the range
between Lake Lebarge and the coast.
They then had to drag the sled them
selves with their effects. A few days
further on they were overtaken by a
severe snow-stOrm. They were at a
very high altitude, and the cold
wGs intense. But they struggled on
biavely, and finally, in a half
sIc2cn condition, reached what Is
known as "the stone house, "
which is nothing more than two large
lorldeIs three miles below the summit
Of the range. Here they built them
selves q snov-house and subsisted for
i've days without fire and food, except
little dry -four. The white man was
badly frozen, aud, what with the sud
den change from the intense cold out
side TO the warmth of the snow hut, he
contracted pneumonia and was unable
10 help himself in the least.
Of course it would have been easy
fcr the lad, abandoning his companion,
10 make his way back to his people,
ut it appears that he stood manfully
hy Williams, nursing him until, after
six DAYS, be was able to continue his
quincy. On this sixth day the half
iamished travellers emerged from their
snow-house, leaving all their effects
within, and started for Chilkoot. VIII
iams had gone but short distance,
Wien he gave out and fell
down again in the snow to die.
The heroic boy then took the
v Mite man Oh his back and resumed his
lonely Journey. The snow lay about
two feet deep upon the ground, the
storm was raging furiously and the cold
vos bitter, so that the lad, with the hui
nm burden on his back, was five days
Urking distance Of twelve miles.
JEen he was found by some Chilkat
Ildians, a sled was constructed, and by
tlcir united efforts Williams was
brought as far as "Healy's store, II
vLc1e he died few hours later For
t~c.yc days Williams and the lad were
without fire or food.
Prom Hesly's the Indian boy was
lrought down TO Juneau OH the steamer
Iukon. he was badly frozen by the
ttilible exposure he suffered and one
of his toes had to be amputated, but
lie had 80 FAR recovered within few
DAYS Of lis arrival at Juneau that he
exhibited the liveliest interest in the
nouy new and strange things that he
saw in the settlement. 1t was the first
time he had ever been 10 the coast on
had ever seen white men in any num-
bGs. he had never seen horse, and,
according TO the -fInsE0 Tree Press, OF
juneau, he "gazed with undisguised
awe upon Jimmy Shakes coal-calt and
horse The Free Press adds that
"when he passed Cato, our colored
;nsmith, on the street, he stopped,
locked at him, and then remarked
That man must have been badly frozen
10 come out so black.
The good people ofJuneau also man
Tested Great interest in the plucky
bog, and surrounded him with every
comfort. lie was to stay there until
the VAIN weather, and will then re-
turn TO lis home on the Yukon, doubt
less TO be = great man hereafter with
bis ucople "for the strange countries
be Las seen